Paris, France, is known by many names: it is the city of lights and the city of love. It is among the best in the world when it comes to art, cuisine, and fashion. It is known for its gorgeous architecture, the romantic Seine river that cuts through it, for its gardens and churches. It is a place that everyone has a picture of in their mind, whether they have been there or not. Paris is a city so iconic that if you have the chance to visit, even if it is short, you should absolutely take it! For those who are short on time during their visit, here are some ideas of how to spend 36 hours in Paris.
Day 1: Afternoon - Tour Jardin d’Agronomie Tropicale, visit Parc du Champ de Mars and the Eiffel Tower
Paris is full of sights and landmarks that are famous all over the world. Why not start your short visit at an eerily beautiful spot that you won’t find on most itineraries: the Jardin d’Agronomie Tropicale (Garden of Tropical Agriculture). First established in 1899 as an experimental garden for crops grown in French colonies, in 1907 it became a colonial exhibition that attracted millions of visitors. Hundreds of colonial natives were brought to France and lived in villages in the garden, where visitors could observe them. After the natives went home, the garden decayed over the years. Now, it is full of lush greenery that has grown around the crumbling buildings left behind. After visiting this overlooked park, hop on the RER, the commuter rail that runs to the Garden of Tropical Agriculture, and head back downtown to one of Paris’s most iconic green spaces: the Champ de Mars. This beautifully manicured park is so spacious you can definitely find a spot for quiet relaxation. It also has wide lawns perfect for great photos of your next stop: the Eiffel Tower! The Eiffel Tower is Paris’s most well-known landmark and an enduring symbol of the city. Whether you stay at its base and gaze up through the amazing iron structure, or venture to the top for sweeping views of the city, there is no wrong way to experience it. You can travel to the top of the tower by stairs or elevator, but it is best to book tickets ahead of time so you don’t waste any of your short visit in lines.
Eiffel Tower
Address: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France
Hours: 9:30 am to 11:45 pm
Website: Eiffel Tower
Day 1: Evening - Enjoy dinner at 58 Tour Eiffel Restaurant, take a cruise on the Seine River (from USD 125.0)
If you haven’t gotten enough of the Eiffel Tower during your afternoon visit, extend your time there by booking a dinner reservation at 58 Tour Eiffel Restaurant. This elegant eatery is located on the second level of the Eiffel Tower. Its many windows provide views of the tower’s structure and are the perfect place for people watching other visitors. This time of the evening, you’ll also get a lovely view of the sun setting over Paris’s skyline. The restaurant serves exquisite French cuisine based on a seasonal menu that rotates twice a year. Once dinner is over and the sun has set, it’s the perfect time to see the city by night. One of the most romantic ways to see the City of Lights is by boat cruise on the Seine River. The cruises go by all the major landmarks, which are lit up at night, including the Eiffel Tower, which has a nightly display of sparkling lights! A great choice of river cruise company is Bateaux Parisiens. Their boats have lots of windows and an outdoor observation deck so you won’t miss a sight.
Bateaux Parisiens
Address: Port de la Bourdonnais 75007 Paris, France
Hours: 10:30 am to 10:00 pm
Website: Bateaux Parisiens
Marina de Paris Seine River Cruise with 3-Course Meal
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Day 1: Night - Drinks at Les Pirates and dancing at La Balajo
After a long day of sightseeing, you’ll need to unwind with a few drinks and dancing! One of the city’s most fun bars is Bar les Pirates. This small spot has a cozy and fun vibe, with a subdued pirate theme that is cool rather than cheesy! They serve up delicious cocktails, many kinds of rum, and great music. After a few drinks at Bar les Pirates, you might find yourself itching to get on a dance floor. Head over to La Balajo, a bright dance club that has been open since 1936! Inside the dance floor is lit up by a giant disco ball and is full of people dancing to all kinds of music. Weeknights feature different styles of music, like salsa and rock, and the weekends have a more traditional club atmosphere. This fun spot is a great place to end your evening, and you’ll definitely get a good night’s sleep before day two of your visit!
La Balajo
Address: 9, rue de Lappe 75011 Paris
Website: La Balajo
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
Day 2: Morning - Breakfast at Cafe Oberkampf, visit La Cite des Sciences et de L'lndustrie
Ahead of a busy day of sightseeing, you’ll want a breakfast that is quick and casual but filling and delicious. Try snagging a table at Café Oberkampf, a modest coffee shop with delicious food and drinks. You won’t find eggs, breakfast meat, and potatoes on the menu here: their specialty is tartines or open-faced sandwiches. Their delicious options range from simple, with peanut butter, fruit, or jam, to the gourmet, like grilled squash, avocado, and halloumi cheese. They also have rotating coffee brews so you’ll never try the same thing twice! Paris is a culturally rich city with tons of museums to explore. Have an educational start to the morning by visiting La Cite des Sciences et de L'lndustrie (City of Science and Industry). This is Europe’s biggest science museum and it attracts five million visitors per year! It has exhibits about many different topics, like the human brain, the history of the universe, transportation, and satellites. There is also a huge submarine on site where you can learn about living conditions under water, a planetarium, and an IMAX theater.
La Cite des Sciences et de L'lndustrie
Address: 30 Avenue Corentin Cariou, 75019 Paris, France
Hours: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Day 2: Afternoon - Tour the Louvre Museum, visit Parc Zoologique de Paris, snack at Marche Ou Crepe
In the afternoon, switch from science to art by visiting the iconic Louvre museum. This is the world’s largest art museum and contains thousands of priceless treasures, like the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. The museum building itself is also a work of art. It is housed in the Louvre Palace which has a large glass pyramid in its courtyard, creating a stunning contrast of historic and contemporary. Though you could easily spend hours viewing the exhibits, not to mention waiting in line, its best to book tickets online ahead of time to shorten your wait. After spending most of your day learning about science and art, head over to the Parc Zoologique to see some cute animals in the afternoon! This zoo is organized into biozones that mimic their animal inhabitants’ natural habitats. It creates a unique, immersive experience that allows visitors to observe the animals behaving like they would in the wild. There are over 180 animal species in the zoo, ranging from the Madagascar tree boa to the toucan to the manatee! Your trip to Paris wouldn’t be complete without tasting one of France’s most delicious delicacies: a crepe. Street vendors, as well as fancy restaurants, serve these thin pancakes, with fillings ranging from sweet to savory. For a quick, casual crepe, stop by Marche ou Crepe. This spot has a wide range of sweet and salty fillings, so you can get exactly the kind of crepe your heart desires.
Louvre
Address: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
Hours: Wednesday to Monday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (open until 9:45 pm on Wednesday and Friday)
Website: Louvre
Day 2: Evening - Have dinner at Jean Yves, visit Notre Dame Cathedral
The French are known for their exquisite cuisine, cooked to perfection by world-class chefs. Sure you can try their dishes at fancy restaurants, but how about having a meal cooked just for you in the chef’s private home? At the home of Jean-Yves, you can enjoy a delicious dinner prepared right in front of you by a MasterChef winner! Jean-Yves has learned his culinary arts through travel, and he excels at preparing Asian food using French haute-cuisine styles. Dinner reservations are limited to 12 guests, so be sure to book this experience far in advance. After dinner, walk off your meal by visiting one of Paris’s prettiest churches: the Notre Dame. This soaring cathedral dates back to the 1100s and has a grandiose Gothic exterior. It has a large stained glass window and archways with intricate sculptures on its front, and flying buttresses and a tall spire at the back. The exterior is brilliantly lit, sometimes with colors, so it is just as breathtaking in the evening as it is during the day.
Jean Yves
Address: Rue du Vertbois, 75003 Paris, France
Website: Jean Yves le Chef
Day 2: Night - Show at Moulin Rouge
After a long day of walking and sightseeing, you’ll appreciate a late evening activity that is done seated, like taking in a show at the Moulin Rouge. This cabaret theater dates back to the late 1800s, though the current building, with its iconic windmill, opened in 1921. A cabaret is a form of theater with music and dances, where the audience sits at tables and indulges in food or drinks. It originated in France, which means if you see a show at Paris’s top cabaret theater you will get an authentic experience and a great ending to your Parisian adventures!
Moulin Rouge
Address: 82 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris, France
Website: Moulin Rouge
36 hours in Paris
There is so much to see and do in Paris that you could spend your whole life there and never experience it all. However, don’t let that keep you from making a quick visit if you can. A few days in Paris will leave you with enough memories to last a lifetime. Hopefully, they won’t have to last you forever and you will be back in no time at all to see even more of what the city has to offer!
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
Create an account to